Proscia helps Mavericks to another win

Tuesday

Aug 21, 2012 at 8:37 PMMar 27, 2013 at 7:49 AM

FROM STAFF REPORTS

ADELANTO • Steven Proscia doubled and homered, both his 20th of the season, to help the High Desert Mavericks beat the Lake Elsinore Storm 6-4 and pick up their seventh straight win at Stater Bros. Stadium on Tuesday.

After beginning the second half 8-9, High Desert (77-50, 40-17 second half) has won 32 of its last 40. The Mavericks' magic number to clinch the California League South Division second half title is reduced to three. The earliest it can claim the championship is Thursday. They won the first half title and have already clinched a first round bye in the playoffs.

The teams were scoreless through three innings before Proscia put the Mavs on the board first in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer.

Lake Elsinore (65-62, 29-28 second half) scored three in the next frame to take a 3-2 lead, but High Desert came back and took over for good in the bottom of the sixth. Proscia had an RBI double, Mickey Wiswall had a run-scoring single and Mike McGee slammed a solo shot to make it 5-3.

James Jones opened the bottom of the seventh with a triple, and Mario Martinez brought him in on a single to round out the Mavs scoring.

Mavs reliever Tim Griffin picked up his first win after giving up one run in four innings, and Stephen Kohlscheen picked up his third save. Mavs starter Ambioris Hidalgo made his California League debut and retired the first 12 batters he faced. He allowed the first three batters of the fifth inning to reach and was pulled in favor of Griffin.

High Desert hosts Lake Elsinore today and Thursday to complete the series.